1

Associate MuleSoft Developer Exam Preparation Guide Mule Runtime 3.6 March 3, 2015

2

Table of Contents

PREPARATION GUIDE PURPOSE ............................................................................................ 3  

EXAM OBJECTIVE ....................................................................................................................... 3  

PREPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 3  

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE ............................................................................................................ 3  

INTENDED AUDIENCE ................................................................................................................ 3  

EXAM COST ................................................................................................................................... 4  

EXAM REGISTRATION ................................................................................................................ 4  

EXAM FORMAT ............................................................................................................................. 4  

EXAM PASS REQUIREMENT ..................................................................................................... 4  

CERTIFICATION VALIDITY ........................................................................................................ 5  

EXAM TOPICS (ANYPOINT PLATFORM ESSENTIALS OUTLINE) ................................... 5  

3

Associate MuleSoft Developer Exam Preparation Guide

Preparation guide purpose The purpose of this guide is to help you understand what knowledge and skills are needed to successfully pass the Associate Mule Developer exam. It does not provide that knowledge, but includes information on how to obtain that knowledge.

Exam objective The Associate Mule Developer exam was specifically designed to be a basic accreditation exam and an end-of-class exam for the Anypoint Platform Essentials training course. It assesses core Mule knowledge and development skills, without requiring significant real hands-on experience. In order to pass the exam, you need to have a strong programming background and be able to apply the concepts listed in the exam topics (the Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) included in this document. Note, that the exam questions do not necessarily map exactly to the course content; you will need to apply the knowledge acquired in the course.

Preparation recommendations The best preparation for the exam is to attend the Anypoint Platform Essentials training course. Data shows that people who take the course usually pass the exam and people who do not take the course are unlikely to pass unless they have months of hands-on Mule experience. If you do not take the course, be sure to review the exam topics (the Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) included in this document and make sure that you have experience with all the topics. For the latest Mule product documentation, go to http://www.mulesoft.org/documentation.

Required experience There is no official requirement for the amount of Anypoint Platform experience you need to pass the exam. If you attend the Anypoint Platform Essentials course and have the appropriate programming background, you should be able to pass the exam at the end of class without additional study or experience. If you do not attend the course, you need to obtain the equivalent knowledge and experience.

Intended audience The target audience for the Anypoint Platform Essentials course and the exam are people that have:

• Experience with Java (preferred) or another object-oriented language.

4

• A basic understanding of data formats such as XML, CSV, and JSON.

• A basic understanding of typical integration technologies such as HTTP, JMS, JDBC, REST, and

SOAP.

This typically maps to roles including:

• Developers (various languages) • Program Managers

• Project Managers • System Integrators

• Solution Consultants • Business Architects

• Technical Architects

Exam cost If you do not take the Anypoint Platform Essentials course, the exam fee is $100 USD per person. If you take the Anypoint Platform Essentials course, the exam is free; it is bundled with the course. You will receive a voucher at the end of class to take the exam. Other purchase bundles may also be available that include this exam; to check, see http://training.mulesoft.com/catalog.

Exam registration The exam is administered via the Webassessor testing platform. To register for the exam, go to https://www.webassessor.com/home.do?page=PUBLIC&branding=MULESOFT&tabs=1, create a user profile, log in, select Register for an Exam, and select the Associate Mule Developer exam. On the payment screen, you will have the option of paying by credit card and/or entering a voucher code.

Exam format Format: Multiple-choice, open-book, unproctored Number of questions: ~40 Duration: Typically around 30-60 minutes, but up to 90 minutes are permitted Language: English Delivery method: Available online anywhere via the Webassessor testing platform Availability: On demand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either immediately upon registration

or later at your convenience

Exam pass requirement A score of 75% or higher is required to pass the Associate Mule Developer exam.

5

Certification validity The Associate Mule Developer accreditation expires two years from the date of passing.

Exam topics (Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) The topics covered in the Associate Mule Developer exam correspond to the topics covered in the Anypoint Platform Essentials course. The outline for the course is included below.

Module 1: Introducing the Anypoint Platform

• Learning what Anypoint Platform is and the problems it can help you solve

• Getting familiar with the components of the Anypoint Platform

Module 2: Building Integration Applications with Anypoint Studio

• Understanding Mule applications, flows, messages, and message processors

• Creating flows graphically using connectors, transformers, components, scopes, and flow control

elements

• Building, running, testing, and debugging Mule applications

• Reading and writing message properties

• Writing expressions with Mule Expression Language (MEL)

• Creating variables

Module 3: Consuming Web Services

• Understanding RESTful and SOAP web services

• Learning about what RAML is and how it can be used

• Consuming RESTful web services with and without RAML definitions

• Consuming SOAP web services

Module 4: Connecting to Additional Resources

• Connecting to files, databases, and JMS queues

• Connecting to SaaS applications

• Discovering and installing connectors not bundled with Anypoint Studio

6

Module 5: Transforming Data

• Getting familiar with the different types of transformers

• Transforming objects to and/from XML and JSON

• Using Jackson annotations for more complicate JSON to object mappings

• Using JAXB annotations for more complicated XML to object mappings

• Streamlining complex data transformations with DataSense and the DataMapper

• Creating custom transformers with Java

Module 6: Refactoring Mule Applications

• Separating applications into multiple configuration files

• Encapsulating global elements in a separate configuration file

• Creating and running multiple applications

• Creating and referencing flows and subflows

• Understanding variable persistence through subflows and flows and across transport barriers

Module 7: Controlling Message Flow

• Understanding and creating synchronous and asynchronous flows

• Multicasting a message

• Routing message based on conditions

• Filtering messages

Module 8: Handling Errors

• Handling messaging exceptions in flows

• Creating and using global exception handlers

• Specifying a global default exception strategy

Module 9: Processing Records

• Processing items in a collection individually

• Understanding what batch jobs are and when to use them

• Creating batch jobs to process items in a CSV file or a database

• Restricting record processing to new records

7

Module 10: Building RESTful Web Services with Anypoint Platform for APIs

• Understanding the benefits of RESTful APIs and web services

• Using the API Designer to define APIs with RAML

• Implementing a RAML file as a RESTful web service with Anypoint Studio and APIkit

Module 11: Deploying Applications

• Understanding the options for deploying applications

• Adding application properties

• Deploying and running applications on CloudHub

• Deploying and running applications on Mule ESB